At 4 a.m. Thursday, the storm was about 55 miles southeast of Corpus Christi and moving west northwest toward the coast at 12 mph, the National Hurricane Center in Miami reported.

Maximum sustained winds were near 40 mph with stronger gusts and some strengthening was possible prior to landfall, forecasters said. Tropical-storm force winds extended 85 miles from the center, the report said.

The National Weather Service said the storm could spawn tornadoes as it moved inland.

Rain accumulations of 3 to 6 inches were expected across much of central and southern Texas, which is a concern as the region is already waterlogged by record rainfall in July, the Corpus Christi Caller-Times said.

On Wednesday, Texas Gov. Rick Perry ordered emergency vehicles and personnel, including National Guard troops, to the area, the newspaper said.